Released this week, episode 86 of Attack on Titan premiered titled ‘Retrospective.’
Following the shattering decision forcing Mikasa, Jean, Conny and Armin to kill their former comrades. Inside the building, Azumabito engineers tell Hange that it’ll take a day to prep the airship, half-a-day if possible. They’re shocked because based on their assumption that the Rumbling can cover 600 km in a day, in four it will envelop the whole world. A new alternate is planned by towing the airship to a seaport with a hangar that will allow a much faster prep-time. Outside, the fighting becomes even more brutal as more and more Jaegerists are killed by Reiner and Annie. Mikasa takes several out herself while Jean provides cover for the Azumabito group approaching the airship. Floch grows desperate as he watches his soldiers die one after another. It grows even more with reinforcements for the Jaegerists being transported via train suddenly explodes. However, the Jaegerists manage to incapacitate Reiner and Annie’s Titans who sacrificed themselves to cover the constant bombardment of thunder spears. Falco watches and pleads to Pieck to allow him turn into the Jaw Titan to help out but she tells him the first transformation always goes bad. He decides to ignore the warning and runs towards the fight as Pieck transports her group to the airship, who also joins after. After struggling a bit to transform, Falco now as a Jaw Titan turns the fight in the Scouts’ favor as they take the moment to take kill more low-moraled Jaegerists. Floch is in utter numbness, rushes towards the airship in an attempt to use his thunder spear in hopes of blowing it up in one shot. Like always, Gabi’s skillful aim with a rifle surprises a now wounded Floch who crashes into the waters nearby. As the airship floats away, General Magath decides to remain behind and encounters Keith Shadis. The two run towards a nearby captured Marleyean ship that poses a threat to the Scouts. The two have conversations behind reasons children of war and the future for them lying ahead. Sacrificing themselves by blowing up the ship as the Scouts and Warriors on the airship tugboat cry in tears. In the after credits, Annie is told about the new plan Magath brought to Hange’s attention. Explaining that Liberio even Marley is now too late to be saved, Annie is completely demoralized. However, Annie asks Mikasa directly if she can kill Eren but mentions she doesn’t want to fight anymore. Not wanting to kill anyone even Eren.
‘Retrospective’ is an absolute banger of an episode, both in brutal action and rising tension. The Azumabito are safely evacuated to the tugboat as Reiner and Annie are nearly killed by the desperate and brutal Jaegerists. Mikasa and Hange hold nothing back as they slaughter to numerically superior Jaegerists at the port. Conny joins in as well after helping Armin to the tugboat, pretty much surprises us as the audience in his skill and resolute. Finally, ending the episode with a tearful good-bye as Magath and Shadis sacrifice themselves in giving the world as chance for their future. We did hear from Hange that seaport of Odiha will be incredibly risky as the Rumbling nears. Hopefully the Azumabito engineers will have the airship ready in time before it arrives, otherwise there’s nowhere left to run.
It earns a 4 out of 5.
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